The Refinement of Gattinara: The Elegance of Nebbiolo in the Heart of Piedmont
The elegance of Nebbiolo finds one of its highest expressions in Gattinara Wine. This esteemed Piedmontese red, made exclusively from Nebbiolo grapes, or Spanna as it is locally called, perfectly reflects the aromatic complexity and tannic structure that make Nebbiolo a wine of great elegance.
Gattinara, with its bouquet of scents ranging from floral notes of rose and violet, to hints of red fruit, and even to nuances of spices and leather with aging, is a wine of great complexity and depth.
Its robust tannic structure and high acidity give it remarkable longevity, allowing it to evolve and improve over time. Finally, Nebbiolo’s sensitivity to terroir is reflected in Gattinara, which distinctively expresses the characteristics of the soil and climate of the place where it is produced, contributing to creating a wine of undeniable elegance and personality.
Characteristics of Gattinara
Gattinara Wine is recognized for its intense garnet color, for its delicate scent of rose, violet, and red fruits, and especially for its broad structure, accompanied by innate elegance.
While the Gattinara specification requires 24 months of aging in Slavonian oak barrels, the Gattinara Riserva requires at least 35 months of aging in wood.
This makes Gattinara one of the great Italian aging wines, giving it longevity comparable to that of Brunello and Barolo. These features make it a wine of great structure and complexity, capable of evolving over time and best expressing its place of origin.
Types of Wines: Gattinara DOCG and Gattinara Riserva
Gattinara Wine is distinguished into two main types, each with its unique peculiarities and characteristics: Gattinara DOCG and Gattinara Riserva.
Both variants are made from Nebbiolo grapes, a vine that produces wines of great structure and longevity, but they differ in aging period and, consequently, in the nuances of taste and aroma they can offer.
Gattinara DOCG
Gattinara DOCG is a wine that owes its distinctive character to an aging period of at least 24 months in Slavonian oak barrels.
This maturation process allows the wine to develop a complex and refined aromatic bouquet, blending the fruity and floral notes typical of Nebbiolo with hints of spices and wood from aging.
The result is a wine of great structure, with a full and enveloping taste, yet maintaining a surprising freshness and liveliness.
Gattinara Riserva
Gattinara Riserva, on the other hand, represents the most evolved and complex expression of Gattinara’s Nebbiolo. This type requires an aging period of at least 35 months in oak barrels, long enough for the wine to acquire even greater depth and complexity of aromas.
Gattinara Riserva stands out for its intense and layered aromatic profile, where fruit and flower notes are complemented by hints of spices, leather, tobacco, and chocolate, making each sip a unique and unforgettable tasting experience.
Gastronomic Pairings
Gattinara is a structured and complex red wine, with an aromatic profile that includes notes of cherry, plum, spices, and minerals.
These features make it an ideal companion for a variety of dishes. It is particularly suited to accompany red meats, game, and aged cheeses.
A classic pairing is with Barolo-braised meat, a rich and flavorful dish that highlights the complexity of the wine. Similarly, Gattinara can be paired with aged cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino, where its acidity and tannins can balance the richness of the cheese.
Storage and Aging
Gattinara is a wine that can greatly benefit from aging. Thanks to its tannic structure and its acidity, it can evolve over time, developing more complex aromas and flavors.
In general, a Gattinara can be stored for 10-15 years, although some high-quality wines can last even longer. To best preserve the wine, it’s important that bottles are stored in a cool, dark place, with a constant temperature of about 12-15 degrees Celsius.
Bottles should be stored horizontally, to keep the cork moist and prevent the wine from oxidizing.
Guide to Discovering Gattinara
To discover the true essence of Gattinara Wine, we invite you to visit the website of the Enoteca di Piazza, https://enotecadipiazza.com/.
This Italian online wine shop offers a wide selection of high-quality fine wines, making wine purchasing not only convenient but also a rewarding experience. The ENOTECA DI PIAZZA by Fedolfi Andrea s.a.s. in Montalcino, Siena, is an excellent example of this experience.
With just a few clicks, you can explore and purchase a wide range of wines, including the esteemed Gattinara, comfortably from your home.
This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Italian wine and discover the hidden treasures of Piedmont.
